Office of International Affairs

November 17-21, 2025

International Education Week (IEW) is nationally recognized initiative, but at Global Lehigh, we take it to the next level. Open to faculty, students, and staff - join us for a week of enriching events to celebrate the ongoing importance and impact of international education and exchange worldwide. 

Monday, Nov. 17

The Global Language of Music: A Lecture and Performance by Eugene Albulescu

Join Eugene Albulescu, Lehigh University Professor of Music and award-winning conductor and pianist, for a special International Education Week event exploring the global nature of music and the value of international education in music. Prof. Albulescu will perform a Baroque suite featuring dances from across Europe—Germany, Italy, Spain, France, and Ireland—culminating in an Argentinian tango. His performance and lecture will highlight the value of international education in the arts. This event is open to the public, and attendees are welcome to bring their own lunch; light snacks and refreshments will be provided.

Annual Flag Parade

Represent your country! Sign up to carry the flag for a country that holds meaning for you (where you were born, where you studied abroad, where you have family, where you're traveled to, etc.) Anyone from the Lehigh community is welcome. The parade will depart Coxe Hall, walk through campus, and end at the UC Flag pole, led by members of the Marching '97 band. Contact OISS to volunteer and participate!

Injera to Insight: Courage in Connection

Jewish Student Life, the Chaplain’s Office, and the Office of Creative Inquiry are hosting an evening of food, culture, and conversation with the Lehigh community  Enjoy an Ethiopian dinner served Ethiopian-style on injera, with a variety of vegan, vegetarian, meat-based, kosher, halal, and gluten-free options. It’s a hands-on, communal dining experience you won’t want to miss! The evening will also feature an interactive creative program that’ll have you thinking deeply about community, belonging, and what it really means to be part of something bigger here at Lehigh.  In an era of digital distractions, this is your chance engage in intentional conversations in a relaxed, electronics-free setting. So come hungry, come curious, and come ready to explore what it means to be a part of our incredible university! RSVP here by Nov. 13; participation will be limited to the first 125 attendees.

Tuesday, Nov. 18

International Faculty & Staff Network (IFSN) Drop-in Sessions

We're excited to invite you to be a foundational part of the International Faculty and Staff Network (IFSN), a new initiative dedicated to fostering community and support for international employees and their families here at Lehigh. Join informal sessions with the IFSN planning team to help shape this new network. Coffee and pastries provided.

AdviseLU Workshop: Education Abroad and Global Experiences

Session presented by OISS where Prasant D. Desai, Esq. of Iandoli Desai & Cronin P.C. will review the pathways to Green Cards for Lehigh's international Postdoctoral community.

Private Student Meet & Greet with Ariana Huffington

Visiting Lehigh campus for her Compelling Perspectives event (see below), Arianna Huffington will take the time to meet privately with a select group of international students to discuss perspectives from her global career, as well as her own experiences as an international student herself.

Islam and Feminism

Presented by the Gender, Leadership & Equity Center, the Muslim Student Association, and the Chaplain’s Office. Join Imam Tariq Ameer and GLE Equity Representative Rania Daghagheleh for a discussion on the roles of gender and feminism in Islam. This event is open to all and aims to foster education and open dialogue in an inclusive environment.

Compelling Perspectives with Ariana Huffington

Compelling Perspectives is a program that widens the aperture on issues of societal importance by encouraging open conversations and modeling respectful discourse on challenging topics. The program welcomes Arianna Huffington, founder and CEO of Thrive Global, founder of the Huffington Post, and the author of 15 books, including international bestsellers. A former international student, Huffington in 2016 launched Thrive Global, a behavior change technology company with the mission of improving health outcomes and productivity.

World in Signs

Presented by the American Sign Language Club. Discover how to sign the names of countries from around the world! Join us for an afternoon of ASL, games, and treats—no prior American Sign Language experience required.

Wednesday, Nov. 19

Listening Differently Workshop 

Join us for a workshop designed to help you develop the skills to both listen differently and listen for difference. Speaking and listening are learned skills shaped by culture, gender, and social context. In this interactive session, you’ll explore the dynamics of communication, practice new methods, and create an action plan for more inclusive listening and conversation practices—particularly in educational settings. Coffee, tea, and snacks will be provided!

VR Passport - A Global Immersive Experience

Presented by Lehigh’s XR Community of Practice. Step into the future of global learning at this hands-on event that brings the world to Lehigh through emerging technologies. Discover how Extended Reality (XR) is being integrated into classes across campus, transforming the way students learn and engage with global issues. Try on a Meta Quest VR headset to explore new cultures, travel to destinations around the world, or practice a new language. Go beyond the headset with ArcGIS Online—a powerful mapping platform that allows you to create and explore global data while visualizing international trends, history, and culture through interactive maps.

Study Abroad: Explore GEL in Asia (Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore)

The Global Exchange Lehigh (GEL) program is a bilateral exchange program designed to welcome inbound international students from institutional partners and provide outbound students with enriching opportunities abroad. Learn more about the opportunities available in Asian countries like Japan, Hong Kong, and Singapore through this program.

Language Tasting

Students can taste and learn simple phrases and greetings in 8 different languages MLL offers. There will be trivia questions, photo contests, and snacks from around the world.

Thursday, Nov. 20

ChBE Gives Thanks for Our Global Community

Presented by the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (ChBE). ChBE graduate students and faculty will celebrate International Education Week with a shared Thanksgiving potluck and a taste of global culture. Participants are invited to bring a favorite dish or tradition from their home country to contribute to a meal that reflects the many cultures that make up the department.

Study Abroad: Explore GEL in Asia (Germany, France, Spain)

The Global Exchange Lehigh (GEL) program is a bilateral exchange program designed to welcome inbound international students from institutional partners and provide outbound students with enriching opportunities abroad. Learn more about the opportunities available in Asian countries like Germany, France, and Spain through this program.

International Film Event

Presented by the Graduate Life Office. Join us at Packer House for an international film screening featuring a work by acclaimed Iranian director Saeed Roustayi (film to be announced). Roustayi’s films powerfully portray the struggles of women within the constraints of Iran’s censored film industry.  The event is open to all students and their families, with special emphasis on graduate students and their families.

UN CSW70 Student Focus Groups

Two student group discussions will be held for a special UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) Consultation Focus Group. The LU/UN Partnership is gatheings student insights to help shape recommendations for the 2026 U.N. CSW. This is the first time ever Lehigh has the opportunity to directly contribute to formal recommendations that will guide U.N. discussions and influence global policy on gender equality.

Friendsgiving

International students, faculty, and staff are invited to join OISS for a traditional American Thanksgiving dinner. Come celebrate what you are thankful for this year! Please register by November 14.

Annual Martindale Society Reception

Martindale students, alumni, faculty, and representatives from New York consulates will gather to celebrate the unveiling of the journal Perspectives on Business and Economics: Resilient Taiwan. Since 1980, the Martindale Student Associates Honors Program has enabled more than 450 of Lehigh’s top undergraduate students to conduct in-depth research on the economy and public policy of a selected country and publish their findings in this journal series. For more than three decades, the New York City Consulate General and/or the Washington Embassy of each featured country have provided invaluable input and support for the program. The program will include a brief address from our guest speaker and short presentations by members of the Taiwan cohort of 2024 and the Croatia cohort of 2025.

Breakfast for Dinner (B4D)

Who says breakfast is only for the morning? Join LU Kapamilya, India Club, Middle Eastern North African Association (MENA), Bangladeshi Association of Lehigh University (BALU), and the Thai Laos Cambodian Alliance (TLCA) for a fun, laid-back “Breakfast for Dinner” night celebrating breakfast favorites from around the world! Enjoy delicious cultural dishes, connect with friends, and take a midweek break filled with laughter, community, and good vibes. Whether you come for the food, the music, or just to unwind, everyone’s welcome at this flavorful evening of global comfort and cultural connection.

Friday, Nov. 21

Island Resilience: Caribbean Women and the Future of Equitable Leadership

Facilitated by Sydane Morrison, Graduate Assistant at the Gender, Leadership & Equity Center, this session explores how Caribbean values and gender perspectives shape inclusive leadership in the face of climate, social, and economic challenges. Through storytelling, visuals, and dialogue, participants will reflect on what the world can learn from Caribbean models of leadership and how allyship and equity can strengthen communities everywhere.

Study Abroad 101

This session gives students the opportunity to ask questions about studying abroad and to hear directly from Lehigh staff about how the Study Abroad process works. The session will also include a demonstration of the Study Abroad Program Finder tool.

Jollof Rice Competition

Hosted by the Lehigh University Association of Ghanaian Students (LAGS) and the Lehigh University Graduate Association of Nigerian Students (LUGANS), this event celebrates West African cuisine by showcasing two variants of the popular dish, Jollof rice.

For questions, please contact inoia@lehigh.edu.